Government Departments: Non-Executive Directors Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Government Departments: Non-Executive Directors

Baroness Meacher Excerpts
Thursday 1st July 2021

(3 years, 5 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Meacher Portrait Baroness Meacher (CB)
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My Lords, having been a non-executive chair and director in various public bodies and having been very conscious of the importance of independent oversight of the process of appointment, I ask whether, in order to regain public confidence, it would be helpful if an official—not a politician—within No. 10 were to carry the governance responsibility for these non-executive directors for government departments.

Lord True Portrait Lord True (Con)
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Currently, the position is that the appointments are made by Secretaries of State. I hear what the noble Baroness says, and I repeat to the House that, following the interim report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, consideration is being given to these matters.